- Remote ops
- Portable ops
2021-09-13 18:35:39
Agenda
Remote ops
Remote ops: Whys and wherefores
- Fun
- Technical challenges
- Promoting the hobby
- Emergencies?
Background
- Gear here, you there
- Two paths
- Your gear (+ interface device)
- Someone else’s gear
Technical challenges
- Rig control (band/frequency/mode/filters/PTT)
- Audio in/out
- Latency
- TCP/IP designed for “packet-ized” communication
Subscription services
- Remote Ham Radio (RHR): https://www.remotehamradio.com/
- $99/year (or $20/mo) + airtime ($/min)
- Runs in web browser
- DEMO
1 hr/wk for better equipped station
hrs_wk <- 1 fee_yr <- 99 dollars_hr <- 0.59*60 wks_yr <- 52 (rhr_yr <- fee_yr + wks_yr*hrs_wk*dollars_hr)
## [1] 1939.8
3 hrs/wk for a lesser-equipped station
hrs_wk <- 3 fee_yr <- 99 dollars_hr <- 0.09*60 wks_yr <- 52 (rhr_yr <- fee_yr + wks_yr*hrs_wk*dollars_hr)
## [1] 941.4
WebSDR
- WebSDR http://websdr.org/
- Free!
- DEMO http://websdr.k3fef.com:8901
Your gear
- VNC-based
- K3ROG-10 APRS iGate
- Old Mac Mini running Ubuntu 19, APRSISCE32 under Wine (thanks N3ABF!)
Raspberry Pi-based
- RigPi: http://rigpi.net/
- Universal Ham Radio Remote: https://github.com/F4HTB/Universal_HamRadio_Remote_HTML5
RemoteTx https://remotetx.net
- Hardware
- Raspberry Pi
- Elecraft K3, KX2, KX3
- Yaesu 991
- Icom IC-7100, 7200, 7300
RemoteTx https://remotetx.net
- Sofware
- Custom RPi image
- Subscription service $40 (6-mos) or $70/year
- DEMO
Third party software
- ICOM RS-BA1: https://www.icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/hf/rsba1/default.aspx
- Windows only
FlexRadio
- SmartSDR and Smartlink (for FlexRadio)
- Windows 10, Mac OS, iOS
- DEMO
- Full control of radio, waterfall
- Easy set-up (largely plug-n-play)
- Can run digital modes (e.g. FT8) within iOS app itself
- Works over wifi or even cell networks
- Mac OS and iOS apps pricey
wfview https://wfview.org
- Free, open-source program for “modern ICOM radios”
- Windows, Mac, Linux
- View IC-705 waterfall via wifi
- Other rigs require USB connection
K3ROG take
- SmartSDR is awesome–but you must have a FlexRadio
- RemoteTx–but only if you have one of the supported radios
- RigPi–supports broader range of rigs
- Selling my RigPi Station Server (Pi, case, + interface boards)
- Remote Ham Radio–let someone else have the headaches–get your feet wet
- wfview–but only for ICOM rigs
Portable ops
With help from
- Eric W3EDP
- Brett W3SWL
- Gene AM3AJ
- Dean K3IWI
Why portable?
Considerations
- Logistics & weather
- Bands, Frequencies, modes, & RF Power
- Rigs(s)
- Power
- Antennas
- Logging
Logistics & weather
- Driving to op site or hiking/biking?
- How long a stay?
- Shelter or none?
Bands, frequencies, modes, & RF Power
- Time of day
- CW, SSB, digital
- RF power
- QRP, <= 5W
- QRP+, <= 15-20W
- QRO, 100W
Rigs
- VHF/UHF
- HT or mobile
- HF
- Elecraft KX2 or KX3 (QRP/QRP+), can add VHF to KX3
- ICOM IC-705 (includes VHF/UHF; QRP/QRP+)
- Yaesu FT-818 (QRP) or FT-891 (100W)
- HF
- Xiegu 5105, G90
- Lab599 Discovery TX-500
- CW-only like QCX+ 40
- KM3AJ’s IC-7100 setup
| Rig | List Price |
|---|---|
| Elecraft KX2 | $899.95 |
| Elecraft KX3 | $1,249.95 |
| ICOM IC-705 | $1,299.95 |
| Yaesu FT-818 | $649.95 |
| Yaesu FT-891 | $639.95 |
| Xiegu G90 | $449.95 |
| Xiegu x5150 | $599.00 |
| Lab599 Discovery TX-500 | $899.95 |
| QCX+ | $55.00 |
Power
- Rig internal battery
- External battery
- \(LiFePO_4\) pricey, but lightweight & small
- Solar panel + charge controller
- Roll/fold-up panels
- Generator
Antennas & masts
- Trees or no trees
- “Stake-able” ground or no (e.g. N3M)
- Multiband vs. monoband
- Resonant vs. non-resonant
W3SWL set-up
Logistics & weather
- “Pickup truck” portable
Bands, frequencies, modes & RF power
- Daytime ops (20m/40m, 80m sometimes)
- Digital (FT8, JS8Call, PSK31, Winlink)
- SSB
- 20-50W sweet spot
Rigs
- Xiegu G90
- Price, waterfall, QRP+ (20W), built-in wide range (>3:1) ATU
- Icom IC-7300
Rig power
- 20 Ah \(LiFePO_4\)
- Honda Ridgeline has 110v 150-400 watt AC in-bed power outlet as backup
